Reasons Why It’s Better to Own Less Stuff

Shannon Quinn - September 3, 2019
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Reasons Why It’s Better to Own Less Stuff

Owning fewer things can be great for you in so many ways. Luckily, our society is beginning to shift in the direction of rejecting too much consumerism, and focusing on what really matters. If you own less stuff, you will be less stressed and have more time and motivation to experience more. If you are thinking about making a change in your life, here are convincing reasons why you should consider downsizing what you own.

Focusing less on material things may help you get closer to your friends and family. Photo Credit: Syda Productions/Shutterstock

50. Focusing on Friends and Family

It is possible to spend time with friends and family no matter how much stuff you have, of course. However, if you are less worried about acquiring material things, you free up more time to talk to your family and friends about things that are important. How often do you find yourself discussing the shoes, car, or clothing that you want to buy? Are these topics really that important, and do they bring you closer with another person? Not really. This is especially true around the holidays. Some people are hyper-focused on what gifts they are going to buy someone, instead of planning how to spend time with that person. Instead of focusing on material things, try to ask yourself how you could spend that same amount of money creating a memory that would last a lifetime.

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A lot of people with too much stuff end up paying for a storage unit. Photo Credit: Sean Locke Photography/Shutterstock

49. No Need to Get a Storage Unit

Whether you have used one or not, you probably have one of those large storage unit facilities in your town. They continue to pop up on a regular basis, even though so many units already exist. This is because people have tons of stuff, and they are not willing to let it go. These storage units cost $100 or more per month, and all you are doing is keeping stuff in a space. After a while, the amount you have paid in rent will most likely cost more than what the objects are actually worth. This is why so many people eventually abandon their storage lockers, and the contents go up for auction.

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The only way to have a spacious living area is to have less stuff. Photo Credit: 2M media/Shutterstock

48. More Space in Your Home

Have you ever flipped through a magazine and thought, “Wow, I wish my home looked like that.” ? Well, it could look as clean and streamlined as you want. Most likely, the issue standing in the way of having a spacious home is the fact that you own too much stuff. Take a look around your living space, and ask yourself if excess furniture and accessories are getting in the way. Anything you can afford to get rid of or replace may completely change the vibe of the room.

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The more things you have, the more you have to dust. Photo Credit: Prostock-studio /Shutterstock

47. Less Dusting

The more objects you have in your home, the more it will accumulate dust. And we all know how difficult and annoying it is to move everything you own off of a shelf to dust everything. Many of us let this chore go for a long time, and the dust the accumulates can lead to allergies and breathing issues. If you have fewer things in your home, it becomes much easier to dust and keep clean.

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The less money you have, the more you can save for the future. Photo Credit: Yulia Grigoryeva/Shutterstock

46. You Save Money

This one may seem obvious, but if you buy fewer things, you will have more cash in your pocket. Do you collect things like video games, collectibles, books, or hobby items? Many people justify these purchases because they “deserve it” after a long week at work. This is true that you deserve to treat yourself. But you cannot finish a video game in a week, and many people end up hoarding their book and hobby supplies to the point where they could stop buying more, and still have enough to occupy their free time for months. Instead of buying more stuff, use that same amount of money to go have a fun experience. Or, put it towards your debt or savings.

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The fewer items you own, the less stress you will feel. Photo Credit: Tatyana Dzemileva/Shutterstock

45. Less To Stress Out About

Some people think that having a lot of stuff will make them proud, and give them a sense of security. Whether you realize it or not, your excess stuff is more likely to cause stress than happiness. You have to worry about where to store it, how to keep it in good condition, cleaning, and so much more. And once it is time to let this object go, people often stress out over that process, too. Having fewer things allows you to clear up that mental space and focus on what really matters.

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It’s not possible to have people over when your house is too crowded. Photo Credit: oneinchpunch/Shutterstock

44. It’s Easier to Entertain Guests

Have you ever thought; “I wish I could invite people over, but it’s way too messy.” Or, “I wish I could have a party, but there would be nowhere for people to hang out.”? This is very common. More often than not, the solution comes from having less stuff. Sure, you might have a really small studio apartment that is holding you back from having 20 people over. But if you live in a house, the issue is most likely that you need to downsize. The best parties have space for people to stand and sit with one another. Remember that creating memories with people you love is far more important than holding on to old things.

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You may need to pay for insurance on your new objects. Photo Credit: BLACKWHITEPAILYN/Shutterstock

43. Not Necessary to Pay for Expensive Insurance

Whenever we get a big purchase like a boat or a car, it is smart to buy insurance. After all, if there is an accident, you will lose out on a lot of money. However, having this insurance payment every month is going to be a burden on top of whatever financing you needed for the vehicle in the first place. If you are tight on money, ask yourself if it is truly necessary to buy this vehicle in the first place. Can you rent a boat, or share a car with your partner? Having fewer of these bigger-ticket items means way less burden on your budget.

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The more things you have, the more stuff is breaking down all the time. Photo Credit: mihalec/Shutterstock

42. Less Maintenance

The more things you have, the more you have to worry about them breaking down and needing repair. For example, if you have “dream” items like a boat, an RV, a vintage juke box, arcade games, or a karaoke machine, these are all things that sometimes break down. You will have to call in a specialist who knows how to fix those things, or accept the fact that you now own a broken object in your house. Even if you look up how to fix things on YouTube, you are still taking a lot of time out of your life to devote to fixing these objects that are not actually necessary for you to own in the first place. Instead of trying to go after all of these big items, maybe narrow it down to the one or two things that you really, truly want, and feel that the maintenance is worth the time, money, and effort.

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If you have fewer things, it becomes easier to redecorate. Photo Credit: Spaskov/Shutterstock

41. It’s Easier to Redecorate

TV shows make redecorating a home seem so simple. In reality, it takes a lot of hard work, and the very first step is to completely empty a room before filling it back up again. If you were to empty a room in order to redecorate it, where would you put your stuff? Would you even have space to temporarily store objects somewhere else in your home? When you live as a minimalist, it is easy to pick up your objects from any given room, and find a new home for them, or at least put them on one side of the room until a painted wall is dry. This idea of having to deal with moving around so much stuff is one of the biggest things that gets in the way of people giving their house a makeover.

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If you have fewer things, it is easier to fill a moving truck and move. Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

40. Flexibility to Move to a New Location

Moving is difficult, no matter how much stuff you have. You could be the most minimalist person in the world, and it would still fill up an entire moving truck. But if you have a lot of stuff, it means you will need a bigger moving truck, or you may need to hire a company. This could mean an additional $1,000 or more in expenses, just to keep your stuff. Is it really worth it? Could you donate the things you no longer need, and potentially buy that same stuff back later if you change your mind? Always keep future moving in the back of your mind when you are making these decisions.

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With less tying you down, it will be easy to travel around the world. Photo Credit: Iryna Kalamurza/Shutterstock

39. Freedom to Travel

When you have a lot of stuff, it may be more difficult for you to travel. There is an issue of home security, and you may even need to hire a house sitter to look after your property and pets. The more objects you have, the more you will feel tied down to stay in one place and protect everything that you own. This keeps you from being able to take a spur-of-the-moment vacation with friends, or travel abroad for months at a time. Everyone has different priorities, but if you want to travel, you may want to consider getting rid of the things that are holding you back.

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Many retirees decide to downsize to a smaller home when they get older. Photo Credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock

38. Ability to Downsize

When it is time to retire, many people decide to “downsize”, or move to a smaller house that is more affordable. Obviously, it would be impossible to do that if you had so much stuff from the big house that you cannot move it to the small one. If you are getting older, keep this in mind the next time you clean up. Would you ever be able to downsize to a small apartment or one-story home? And do you have plans on what to do with your things once you go? Sometimes, it is as simple as calling up your children and grandkids and let them take the things they love. But if they are not showing any interest, a real plan needs to be put into action.

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Obviously, less stuff means having less clutter. Photo Credit: luanateutzi/Shutterstock

37. Less Clutter

This one may seem obvious, but if you get rid of more of your things, you will produce less clutter. And if there is less clutter, it will cause less stress in your life. According to Psychology Today, clutter in your home makes it impossible to relax. It can also inhibit your creativity, and your ability to think about anything else in your life but the mess that you are surrounded by. Clutter also creates a sense of guilt for most people, and they often get down on themselves about getting better at organization. So instead of dealing with this negative cycle, do something about it!

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If you begin to clean your house, your friend and family will probably take notice. Photo Credit: PhotoByToR/Shutterstock

36. Inspire Others

Once you begin to clean up your clutter and minimize the amount of stuff in your life, your friends and family will begin to notice. Even if you do not brag about your results with a “before” and “after” photo, your loved ones should immediately notice as soon as they visit your home. Expect to hear words of praise for what a good job you did, and an onslaught of people saying “I really need to do this too.” Inspiring others to make positive changes in their own lives feels amazing, and it is a positive cycle that you can pass on from person to person.

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You can’t take all of your stuff with you when you die. Photo Credit: trekandshoot/Shutterstock

35. Less Burden On Your Loved Ones

Sadly, we will all pass away some day. Our stuff cannot go with us when we die. So, if you are nearing retirement age, have you ever considered just how much of a burden your stuff will be on your children and grandchildren? Someone is going to become responsible for sorting through your belongings. Would you feel proud that you passed on some amazing things to your loved ones, like memories that truly mattered? Or would you feel embarrassed imagining the kind of junk they would need to sort through?

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Sometimes, it is better to have a few really nice things instead of a lot of cheap things. Photo Credit: Tony Emmett/Shutterstock

34. Quality Over Quantity

When you don’t have a lot of money, it is all too easy to grab a cheap item that is going to give you temporary satisfaction. More often than not, these objects are so cheap that they eventually have to be replaced, or they end up going in the trash. If you make a concerted effort to stop spending money on a high quantity cheap things, you can buy a small amount of high-quality items. For example, you could buy dozens of cheap plastic necklaces that you might only wear once or twice. Or, you can save all of that money and but one really nice necklace that you feel really proud to wear.

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Owning fewer things means that you will produce less waste. Photo Credit: Deon Pl

33. It’s Good For the Environment

Every time you buy something new, you are getting a plastic bag and packaging that may end up in the garbage. And if you are constantly going through low-quality clothes, those end up in a landfill, too. According to Science Line, 400 million pounds of clothes are thrown in landfills every single year, and that’s because of cheap “fast fashion”. Making the choice to own fewer things is actually going to help the planet, at least in a small way.

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Your kids will look up to you to lead by example. Photo Credit: Fizkes/Shutterstock

32. Sets a Good Example For Your Kids

Whether they like to admit it or not, your kids really look up to you. Even as teenagers, they might pretend to be annoyed with you, but the reality is that they still see you as role models. So, if they see you shopping constantly, they are going to pick up on that habit and start to do it, too. Ask yourself if you really want your child to end up doing the same things with their money some day. The best way to help them from going down the wrong path is to make changes in yourself, and lead by example.

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If you donate your unwanted items, it will help someone else who needs it. Photo Credit: goffkein.pro/Shutterstock

31. Help Those in Need

Instead of throwing away your unwanted items in the trash, you should donate your clothing and home goods to Goodwill and other charity shops. There may be someone out there who is low on cash, and they would be more than happy to buy your used goods. However, keep in mind that anything full of holes or stains will get thrown in the trash by thrift store employees, anyway. Try to only donate items that are still in decent condition.

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If you have less tying you down, you might be able to switch careers. Photo Credit: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

30. Possibly Change Careers

Sometimes, the only thing holding us back from going after our dreams is to let go of material things. If you had less financial burden in your life, you may have the freedom to save up some money, quit your job, and pursue a new career. The best thing to do is make a budget. For example, a lot of people spend over $100 a month in order to have the newest smart phone, or $300 a month on a new car. Are these items worth staying at a miserable job? It truly is food for thought.

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If you can never find anything, it is likely that you have too much stuff to begin with. Photo Credit: Realstock/Shutterstock

29. It’s Easier to Find Things

Have you ever gone through your closet to look for something, and it’s nowhere to be found? And the only and only way to actually uncover where the object went is if you begin to clean everything from top-to-bottom. Once you begin to downsize the items you own, you will discover that it is so much easier to find everything you own. Make sure you figure out an organizational system for your stuff, as well.

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When you have fewer things, it is easier to display the objects that truly matter. Photo Credit: DedMityay/Shutterstock

28. You Can Display Your Favorite Items

When you have too much stuff, it is difficult to show everything you own on your shelves. More often than not, you probably feel obligated to put out the items that are new and trendy, instead of the objects that you actually adore. Even though the new trends are tempting, try to clear off your mantles and shelves and display the objects that you really, truly love. You might realize that you prefer to show what you already have, instead of buying new things.

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Some people feel like they are buried in laundry. Photo Credit: mariakray/Shutterstock

27. Less Laundry to Do

If you are constantly buying new clothes, chances are that you will end up doing more laundry. Sure, you may be doing laundry more often if you own a small capsule wardrobe, but at least you don’t have a lot to fold. Some people out there have so many clothes, that they let it accumulate for weeks at a time, and they end up spending an entire day doing laundry. Then, clean clothes end up sitting in piles and baskets. Yikes. It’s not a good way to live.

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If you have less clutter in your life, you will begin to feel happier in general. Photo Credit: Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock

26. You Feel Better in General

Once you begin living a minimalist lifestyle, get rid of clutter, and start focusing more on experiences instead of things, you will feel happier in general. Feeling like you have everything you could possibly want or need is an amazing feeling to have, and you don’t need to be rich to accomplish it. This just comes from having gratitude for the things you have, and more importantly, the people you surround yourself with.

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When you have fewer things to worry about, it becomes easier to focus. Photo Credit: GaudiLab/Shutterstock

25. You Become More Productive

Have you ever tried to accomplish something in your house, but you can’t get it done, because there are just piles of stuff everywhere? Probably the most common example is a huge pile of dishes. It looks so overwhelming, that you really have to push yourself to get the chore done. Now, imagine that same feeling of dread, only it is all over your house. How easy would it be to feel productive? The answer is- nearly impossible. If you think you are having problems focusing and getting things done, it may be that you are worrying too much about your messy lifestyle. Seriously take a weekend to donate things to the thrift store, and you will probably become ten times more productive.

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In order to do yoga at home, you need empty space on the floor. Photo Credit: SFIO CRACHO/Shutterstock

24. A Healthier Lifestyle

By having more space in your house, you can start to live a healthier lifestyle. Yoga has become very trendy in recent years. It is possible to do yoga at home with a mat and an instructional video on YouTube, but few people actually have the space to do it in their own house. The way you can accomplish this is to have less stuff, and more space for exercise. Of course, you can use this new space for just about anything, and not just yoga. You would be surprised as how much more active you become in a home with more space to move around.

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So many people buy things twice because they cannot find it. Photo Credit: Noel V. Baebler/Shutterstock

23. You Will Never Accidentally Buy a Duplicate

Whether you like to admit it or not, you have probably bought something, only to realize later that you already had it, but it was just lost in a junk drawer somewhere. In some extreme cases, you might end up with more than two of the same item. This also happens a lot with people when they go grocery shopping. This can be prevented by taking a very good look through your fridge and cabinets before you go to the store. Also do a thorough cleanup at least once a month to keep memories fresh in your mind of what objects you do and do not own.

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When your house is a mess, getting a surprise visit can be a nightmare. Photo Credit: Onlyshaynestockphoto/Shutterstock

22. Surprise Visits Don’t Stress You Out

Most people want to have a lot of notice before someone comes over to their house, so that they can clean it from top to bottom. The idea of someone coming over for a surprise visit it a total nightmare. If you feel like your house is so messy that it has become an embarrassment, you really need to step back and ask yourself why that is. And if it is not good enough for other people to see, why are you punishing yourself by living in this space that is “not good enough”? Once you get in the habit of cleaning up your living space and maintaining it, you will feel much better about spending time with friends and family more often.

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Sometimes, if we hold on to old objects, it means that we are not letting go fo the past. Photo Credit: Sharomka/Shutterstock

21. Letting Go of the Past

When we inherit objects that belongs to parents and grandparents that passed away, it can be really hard to let those go. Same with items that belonged to our children when they were growing up. Sometimes, we hold on to an object, and all of those memories come flooding back to us. But do you really need to keep that physical object to keep the memory? Is it possible that you could write your memories in a journal, or talk about it in a video blog? It’s fine to hold on to certain things that are truly sentimental, but in many cases, people hold on to objects from the past because they are not able to let go.

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It is much better to have happy memories instead of holding on to objects. Photo Credit: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

20. Enjoying Memories, Not Objects

If you focus all of your energy on buying and maintaining your physical items, you might be spending less time with the people you love. Next time you feel the urge to spend money on yourself, ask “how can I spend this with my friends and family?” instead. Once you have this shift in mindset, you might find that you become a lot closer with your loved ones. They will also probably want to return the favor, and bring you somewhere fun the next time.

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Most couples fight about money, and it tears family apart. Photo Credit: Estrada Anton/Shutterstock

19. Fewer Fights With Family

Unfortunately, couples fight over money more than nearly anything else in their relationship. It can also be a leading cause of divorce. Obviously, if you and your partner are buying more things than you can actually afford, it will only accumulate more debt, or drain your bank account. Then, it will turn into huge fights. This is not just hurting your relationship. It is also hurting your kids, if you have any. Take a step back and ask yourself if these physical things you are collecting are actually more important than your loved ones. Is a new purse or a TV really worth fighting over?

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If you have less objects, you will have more time for creating memories. Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

18. Creating Memories and Experiences With Your Kids

If you are hyper-focused on getting a new object like a boat, laptop, or TV, you might forget about spending time with your kids. A $1,000 laptop could just as easily be a family road trip that your kids will remember for the rest of your life. Or, it could be a yearly pass to an amusement park where you and the kids could go every weekend. Instead of thinking about accumulating objects, think about accumulating memories, instead.

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If you have fewer things, you will have better Feng Shui in your home. Photo Credit: Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock

17. Better Feng Shui

For those who believe in the Chinese art of Feng Shui, your house needs to be arranged in such a way where energy can flow freely throughout your living space. It also helps with balancing some of the biggest goals in your life, like wealth and relationships. One of the number one factors in improving your homes’ Feng Shui is to get rid of clutter. Maybe you won’t go through all of the steps of Feng Shui, but at least you will know that you are on the way to having good vibes.

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Having less items to worry about means having a better night sleep. Photo Credit: Stock-Asso/Shutterstock

16. You Will Sleep Easier

Whether you are aware of it or not, having too much stuff will make it hard for you to sleep. Clutter can stress us out, and that can carry over to when you are trying to fall asleep. Try this experiment: Clean your house, get rid of some things by donating them to the thrift store. Notice how you feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. You will probably sleep great that night, knowing that you did something really positive to impact your quality of life.

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One day, if you sell your house, something has to happen to all of your stuff. Photo Credit: Willy Barton /Shutterstock

15. It Will Be Easier to Sell Your House

Some people choose to live in their house for the rest of their life. But if you know that some day, your job or retirement may send you elsewhere, it would be wise to think about what is going to happen when you eventually move. Are you really going to bring everything with you, or do you look around and already see things that you know would get donated immediately? If it is the latter, you should consider donating those items sooner, rather than later. This will make your future moving process a lot less hectic.

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It is best not to push off difficult tasks for later. Photo Credit: Tap10/Shutterstock

14. You Stop “Sweeping Things Under the Rug”

Sometimes, problems arise in our lives that seem so difficult to deal with, we refuse to handle it right away. Instead of tackling a problem head-on, we choose to sweep things under the rug both figuratively and literally. If you choose to downsize and keep less stuff in your home, this will happen far less often. For example, if you organize a huge collection of something like baseball cards, you will finally have it all in one place, and it will no longer be a burden that you hold on to in the back of your mind.

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Hoarding is truly a tragic thing to happen to people. Photo Credit: LC

13. Avoid Becoming a Hoarder

When the economy struggles, there are more people who choose to hoard. It gives them a sense of security, because they feel that if they need something, they will not have to go out and buy it again. More often than not, the objects kept by hoarders are actually of little-to-no value, like plastic cups or rotting food that no one would ever eat. Sure, being a hoarder like what you see on TV is an extreme, and it is also a mental illness. However, some people hoard in a different way. They hold on to old memories, or refuse to let go of the past. If you need help letting go, we recommend watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. It will help change your mindset so that you only want to hold on to things that spark joy in your life.

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You can downsize your book collection and put everything on an iPad. Photo Credit: GaudiLab/Shutterstock

12. A Digital Library in the Palm of Your Hands

One of the biggest benefits of downsizing a book collection is the ability to read any book at any time. It’s no secret that Kindles and iPads are devices used to read e-books. But people often still have a home library and an iPad as well. If you are looking into downsizing in a big way, consider signing up for Kindle Unlimited. This allows you to download an unlimited number of books every month. You can also borrow e-books from your local library. It may be possible to replace your physical library all together.

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Owning less stuff gives you a sense of freedom. Photo Credit: Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock

11. Freedom

When you own fewer things, you have freedom to do more with your life. It frees up money that can be spent on vacations and experiences, rather than objects. It may also provide you freedom because you will have less credit card debt holding you down, as well. Even with the things you have purchased in the past, if you begin to donate things to the thrift store, you begin to feel a sense of “If I can let go of those old things, I can do anything”.

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Having gratitude for the things you already have makes you a happier person. Credit: Shutterstock

10. You Feel More Gratitude For The Things You Already Own

When you own less stuff, it’s easier to feel grateful for the things you already have. Now, I know what some of you are thinking- If you don’t feel grateful right now, how can you ever change that feeling without receiving the things you wish you had? Start by reminding yourself of the things you are grateful for. You have a roof over your head. Internet access. And you might own a car, or other luxuries that many people in the world don’t have. Once you start to look at the things you already own with gratitude, you begin to feel like it’s no longer necessary to buy new things to get that feeling.

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If you want to own fewer things, learn to distinguish between your wants and needs. Photo Credit: Parentology

9. It’s Easier to Understand a “Want” From a “Need”

There is a big difference between “wants” and “needs”, and yet most people don’t seem to recognize that. They say, “I need a new outfit” or “I need a new phone,” when the reality is that the only things we actually need as human beings are food, shelter, and emotional well-being. Stop using the word “need”, and switch it over to “want”. This will immediately help change your mindset. A great trick I use for myself to buy less things is to put what I want on an Amazon wishlist. Then, I wait until the month is over before I’m allowed to buy anything. If I still want the thing, I go ahead and buy it. Browsing through my purchase history, it’s filled with mostly necessities like toiletries and cleaning products, because I ultimately realize I got over the thrill of feeling like I “need” something once enough time has passed, and my priorities become more clear.

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If you become happier with less stuff, you might also feel happier with less food. Credit: Shutterstock

8. You May Lose Weight

Believe it or not, owning fewer things and working on having a minimalist mindset might help you lose weight. In the book What Are You Hungry For? by Dr. Deepak Chopra, he talks about the fact that most people become overweight because they have some sort of perceived lack in their lives. A lot of people choose to fill that emotional hole with buying things, or over-eating. When you become more happy, satisfied, and fulfilled in your everyday life, you naturally eat less. Think about the last time you had a lot of fun at an amusement park or spent a day with your best friend. Maybe you forgot to eat lunch, because time was flying. The process of getting rid of things and becoming a happier person may result in your losing weight, too. If you haven’t ready that book before, I highly recommend it, because it’s helped me.

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If you stop buying smaller things, you may be able to save up for that big purchase you always wanted. Credit: Shutterstock

7. Buying Luxuries Becomes Easier

When I was a babysitter, I watched a family with three children. Two of the kids were great at saving. So they had no problem saving their money for an expensive object, like a Nintendo 3DS. However, the third child loved to buy chapstick, gum, and candy every time she got her allowance. Fast forward a few months, and her siblings got a Nintendo Switch, while she had nothing to show for her hard work. She would complain, saying that it’s “not fair”. Money habits are formed by age 7, so most people need early intervention if they want to grow up with a saver’s mindset. Unfortunately, many adults are exactly like this! Most people who can afford a luxury object like a new phone or laptop are able to buy it because they avoid buying too many smaller, useless things.

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If you have fewer things to worry about, you can spend more time with family. Credit: Shutterstock

6. More Time to Spend on the Things That Matter

When you own less things, it gives you more time to spend on the things that matter. For example, I used to go shopping a lot before the pandemic started. These were trips that I usually took when I was bored, or felt antsy about wanting to get out of the house. Now, I only leave the house and go into a store when it’s absolutely necessary. Having that shopping habit forcefully taken from my life helps me to spend more time on being more productive during the work day, which frees up my evenings to have time for watching movies and bonding with my family.

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It’s easier to rearrange a room when you own fewer things. Credit: Shutterstock

5. It’s Easier to Rearrange Rooms

In 2020 to 2021, a lot of people had to create a home office out of a spare bedroom. Or, maybe they had to accommodate more people in their household, as multi-generational families began to re-emerge in our society. This requires people to rearrange a room. It’s so much harder to do this when you have a lot of stuff! The fewer things you have, the easier it is to pick it up and move it into the new space.

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It’s better to read your books to completion before getting another one. Credit: Shutterstock

4. It’s Easier to Watch, Read, and Consume What You Already Have

One of the most common things people collect is books, DVD’s, and CD’s. And if you’re anything like me, you might buy books that you intend on reading “some day”, and yet that day never comes. Despite having tons of books already, I just keep buying more. But when you downsize a book collection, it became a manageable collection that is actually a realistic goal for a reading list. After spending years feeling like I “need” a huge home library, I consolidated everything down to one bookshelf of favorites, and books I genuinely intend to read.

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If you feel confident, you don’t have to get jealous. Credit: Shutterstock

3.You Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

When you get in the habit of buying new things all the time, you can’t help but compare yourself to others. You might be comparing yourself to people that you see on Instagram, or people that you see at work or school. This becomes a never-ending cycle of buying new things so that you feel like you are keeping up with everyone else. I used to be like this when I was in college. But as I have gotten older, I started wearing a capsule wardrobe. And I choose classic jackets and purses that have lasted me for several years. Now, I never feel the need to compare my wardrobe to anyone else, because I know that I always look good even if the clothing is a few years old.

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When you have more money left over, you can do more house repairs. Credit: Shutterstock

2. It’s Easier to Improve Your Property

For those of you who are lucky enough to own a house, you probably watched a home makeover show at least once. So many people fantasize about being able to give their house a makeover, but it costs a lot of money. The only way to accomplish this is either by taking out a huge loan, or saving overtime. My father is a perfect example of this. He never buys himself anything except food and basic necessities. Since I was a child, his home has transformed into the most beautiful house on the block, while our neighbors stayed the same, or became run-down. He never made a lot of money, but he chose to put his extra income into the house. Now, he has an amazing investment, and it’s his pride and joy.

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If you buy fewer things, you may be able to afford to move to a better state or town. Credit: Shutterstock

1. You Can Potentially Move to a Better Location

Throughout my lifetime, I have met countless numbers of people who prioritize buying a lot of stuff or having a new car over focusing on where they live. All of this came crashing down in 2020 when they suddenly realized they hate living in a small apartment. When you have fewer things, you have more money to move somewhere newer, and safer. There are so many more expenses to moving to a different state or country far beyond what you would usually expect from moving to a new apartment in a different town. It’s definitely something you need to cut back on buying too many things in order to prepare for.

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